Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team closed out its 2012 regular season against ninth-ranked North Alabama with a 7-3 loss on Senior Day at Charger Park on Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, the Chargers (28-20, 15-9 GSC) still take the series 2-1 over the Lions (36-14, 15-9 GSC).
Prior the start of the contest, UAH and the fans honored the eight seniors who were playing their final home game in the Blue and White. Those seniors are Eddie Villalta, Jon McKinney, Mike Love, Eric Deese, David Kendrick, Ty Chancelor, Ryan Griffin and Grant DeBruin.
With the two victories yesterday, UAH not only claimed the series, but the squad also eclipsed their win total from last year and currently sit with 28 victories on the year – the most since the 2009 season when UAH won 29 games. If they can win two more games, this year's Chargers will have the most wins since the 2004 season when UAH finished 36-17.
For the fourth consecutive game, UAH scored in the first inning. Justin Pearson led off the frame with a single, and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Deese then dropped a single into centerfield to bring around Pearson to score and give UAH an early 1-0 advantage.
After evening the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, UNA took the lead for the first time on the weekend with another run in the sixth inning.
The lead didn't last long though, as UAH plated two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Vincent Kortbawi turned in the clutch at-bat by lining the two-RBI double to right centerfield, and put the Chargers back up, 3-2.
The Lions answered with four runs in the top of the seventh, led by Josh Cyr's two-run home run – his third homer of the weekend – and UNA held a 6-3 advantage.
UAH had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but the next three batters popped out in order to end the frame. UNA added another run in the top of the eighth to take a 7-3 lead, and retired the next six Chargers in order for the win.
Kendrick started on the hill for UAH, working 5.2 innings to a no decision, allowing two runs on nine hits, no walks and striking out four. Cody Barrett (4-5) pitched in relief and was tagged with the loss, working the final 3.0 innings in which he allowed five runs – three earned – on six hits, no walks and fanned two batters.
Chad Boughner (10-2) went the distance for UNA, posting a 9.0-inning complete game. He allowed three runs on eight hits and four walks while sitting down 11 Chargers on strikes.
UAH will next compete in the 2012 GSC Baseball Tournament being held at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Ga. The Chargers will enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed and will meet No. 6 seed West Florida in the opening round on Friday, May 4 at noon CT. The tournament runs from Friday, May 4 through Tuesday, May 8, with the first game set for 9 a.m. CT on Friday morning.
